220 THE ARMY HORSE. 



which is a poverty-stricken disease that needs repair. I feel 

 certain that success in its treatment can only be incomplete, 

 and that a horse recovering from it can never bs as good as he 

 would have been, had he been brought up differently. The 

 longer we wait to restore the young horse, the longer and 

 more unsuccessful will be the treatment. If the animal is only 

 a three-year-old, a few months may be sufficient, but if he is 

 four years, and still more if he is five, he will require a year 

 or longer. This undeniable fact is easily explained, because 

 the longer the animal suffers from anaemia, the more severe 

 does the disease become, and the greater is the general 

 wasting. 



The numerous cases of mortality among young horses are 

 to be attributed to this state of impoverishment (anaemia). 

 The debility which results from insufficient food during 

 the period of growth, makes them unable to resist the 

 slightest illness or the most trifling accident. It is also the 

 cause of many diseases, strangles, for instance, and obscure 

 lamenesses which are generally put down to youth. A 

 young horse is vigorous and healthy, if he is brought up 

 under good conditions ; but is weak and sickly if he has 

 a lymphatic temperament, or is anaemic from want of food 

 or exercise. 



Norman horses are generally lymphatic, soft and backward, 

 because Normandy produces less oats than other breeding 

 districts, and it is the custom in that country to give it only 

 to trotters. The breed feels the bad effects of this, and soon 

 degenerates, unless the stallions are chosen from trotters 

 which, having been always kept in good condition, are able 

 partly to correct the lymphatic temperament of the dam 

 which has suffered from anaemia in her }-outh. 



It is not correct to say that trotters acquire their magnifi- 

 cent development and strength on account of their being 

 exceptional animals. Besides the brilliant instances which 



